News Summary
Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald, who escaped from Orleans Parish Jail, have been apprehended in Texas and returned to Louisiana following a high-speed chase. The manhunt for two remaining escapees continues, with a reward offered for information leading to their capture. The escape, involving ten inmates, raised security concerns at the jail and led to a multi-agency investigation, resulting in 14 arrests tied to the event.
New Orleans – Two inmates who escaped from Orleans Parish Jail have been captured in Texas and are now back in Louisiana. Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were apprehended after a high-speed chase and have been transferred to a secure correctional facility following their extradition.
The manhunt continues for the remaining escapees, Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves, who are still at large. Authorities are actively pursuing leads, including a reported sighting of Massey in Natchez, Mississippi. A reward of up to $50,000 has been announced for information that could lead to their capture.
The dramatic events began on May 16 when ten inmates managed to escape the Orleans Parish Jail by tampering with a sliding door and crawling through plumbing. They exited after cutting steel bars and were initially spotted in the French Quarter shortly after their escape. Since then, law enforcement has confirmed that eight of the ten escapees have been recaptured, which includes Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Lenton VanBuren.
The escape prompted a multi-agency investigation involving the FBI, Louisiana State Police, and local police forces. In connection with the escape, 14 individuals have been arrested for allegedly assisting the fugitives, including a jail employee. Furthermore, a man named Vi Duc Nguyen has been arrested in Baton Rouge for allegedly aiding one of the escapees, Lenton VanBuren.
Surveillance footage captured significant moments of the escape, as well as the arrests of Tate and Donald. The two men, compliant during their capture, appeared in a Texas courtroom dressed in orange jumpsuits. Tate has indicated his intention to hire a private attorney, while Donald has requested a court-appointed lawyer. Both face charges in Louisiana linked to their escape.
Massey is known for his history of escape attempts, including an incident in 2019 when he fled the Morehouse Detention Center and subsequently cut off an ankle monitor shortly after being fitted. Derrick Groves has a violent criminal past, having been convicted of murder for two double homicides in 2018.
The escape has raised concerns regarding the security protocols at Orleans Parish Jail. The state Attorney General’s office is conducting an investigation into the operational failures that allowed the jailbreak to occur. Family members of the escapees have reportedly provided law enforcement with tips concerning their whereabouts, which is aiding the ongoing manhunt.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is facing criticism over its handling of the situation, as the lax security measures have come under scrutiny in light of the jailbreak. Local authorities continue to emphasize the importance of community involvement in the search for Massey and Groves, encouraging the public to report any information that could lead to their capture.
As of now, the search for the two remaining fugitives remains a top priority for law enforcement, and the efforts to restore public safety in the wake of the jailbreak are ongoing.
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Additional Resources
- WWLTV: New Orleans Jail Escape Update
- CBS News: New Orleans Jail Escape Manhunt
- CNN: New Orleans Escape and Family Involvement
- New York Times: New Orleans Jail Escape Analysis
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans Jail
